Rep. Kelly Townsend, R-Mesa, introduced the bill that would exempt the communications from being covered by the state public records law, just days after lawmakers dramatically voted to remove Rep. Don Shooter from office.(Photo: Bob Christie, AP)

But it turns out no study is needed to determine what to do about the wholesale epidemic of mass murderers taking aim at us – literally – in our schools and in our movie theaters and in our churches and malls and workplaces.

Blame video games and abortion

Arizona’s Rep. Kelly Townsend can tell you why it’s happening: It’s because of video games and abortion.

"We are in a culture of death where it's OK if you have an unwanted pregnancy to just go ahead and kill that child,'' she told her colleagues.

Wait … what?

Abortion causes massacres?

CLOSE

There's a rally for change after the mass-shooting in Parkland, Florida. Students are speaking up and taking action.
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I called Townsend to see if she really thinks that giving a woman a choice on whether to end a pregnancy somehow leads to a Dylann Roof killing nine people during a prayer meeting at a Charleston, S.C., church. Or to a Stephen Paddock killing 58 people at an outdoor concert in Las Vegas.

Or to Nikolas Cruz killing 17 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.

She explained that guns have always been around but we haven't had an epidemic of school shootings until recent times, when first-person shooter video games became all the rage and abortion on demand became acceptable.

"If we have a disregard for death, like for the x number of abortions we have, it goes along with the culture of the disregard for human life," she told me.

Perhaps, but that culture of death is certainly enhanced when you can reach for your trusty AR-15 and your extended magazines (so much easier to create mass carnage when you don't have to stop to reload).

But no need, apparently, to look at changing that.

CDC can't study gun violence

Still Townsend raises a valid point – one that should be studied along with the proliferation of high-powered weaponry. It just won't happen.

It used to be that the Centers for Disease Control studied gun violence as a public health concern, in search of a way to prevent these tragedies.

But in 1996, Congress amended a spending bill to forbid any federal funds from being used “to advocate or promote gun control.” This, at the request of the NRA after a spate of studies suggested that the presence of guns increased the risk of deaths.

Expanding tax credits. At a time when we can’t properly fund public education, Senate Bill 1467 would expand tax credits to pay for private school tuition. This genius idea comes from Senate President Steve Yarbrough, R-Chandler, whose family has long profited from Student Tuition Organizations. Photo by Rob Schumacher/The Republic

Yet another tax cut. This time, our leaders want to eliminate a sales tax on digital streaming services and software remotely accessed over the internet. But they don’t know how much of a hit this tax cut would be to the state budget. House Bill 2479 already cleared the House last week and its twin, Senate Bill 1392, is awaiting a vote in the Senate. Photo by AP

English only, amigo. House Bill 2083 would make any insurance contract written in Spanish worthless in the event of a legal dispute.
Sponsor: Rep. David Livingston, R-Peoria Photo by Mark Henle/The Republic

Redskins? Shhhh. HB 2499 would give any Arizona tribe the right to veto use of a term or image it found offensive at any publicly financed sports stadium or arena.
Bill's sponsor: Rep. Eric Descheenie, D-Chinle Photo by AP

Butt out, voters. HCR 2022 proposes that the state Legislature select party nominees for the U.S. Senate. No need for voters to concern themselves with the primary election.
Bill's sponsor: Rep. Travis Grantham, R-Gilbert Photo by Mark Henle/The Republic

Annual attempt to thwart citizen initiatives. SCR 1001 would limit ballot measures to “one subject” that must be spelled out in the initiative title. This, to make it more difficult for citizens to make laws via initiative.
Bill's sponsor: Sen. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills Photo by David Kadlubowski/The Republic

That mustache better be real. HB 2007 would make it a crime to wear a disguise at a protest, political rally or other public event. First Amendment much?
Rep. Jay Lawrence, R-Scottsdale Photo by Pat Shannahan/The Republic

Go away, commies. HB 2277 would ban the use of public money to promote anything that opposes free-market capitalism. This to protect us from 'an alarmingly high percentage of individuals under 40' who apparently prefer socialism, fascism and communism, according to the bill's sponsor, Rep Bob Thorpe, R-Flagstaff. Photo by AP